Antoine colomes



(No Model.)

A. COLOMES. AUTOMATIC LIFE PRESERVER, BUOY, &6.

Patented May 1,1894

yyh.

me NATIONAL LIYNOGRAFNINQ COMPANY.

NITED STATES ATEN T FFICE.

AUTOMATIC LIFE-PRESERVER, BUOY, etc.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,242, dated May 1, 1894.

Application filed November 8, 1893. Serial No. 490,336. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, ANTOINE CoLoMEs, of Clermont-Ferrand, Department of Puy-de- Dme, in the Republic of France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in AutomaticLife-Preservers, Buoys, 850., which iniprovemcnt is fully set forth in the following specification. p

The present invention has for its object the nstan taneous inflation of life-preservers and analogous buoyant bodies designed to support persons or things upon the water. Devices of this character, asusually constructed, are

bulky and cumbersome, and the inconvenences attending their transportation and manipulation are avoided by the useof the present invention.

The invention consists essentially of (first) a hollow and air-tightvessel, belt, or receptacle, which may be generically termed the "infiaton chamber and which is made of flexible or collapsible material (such as rubbercoated fabric) so. that when not inflated it may be folded into a Very small compass; and (second) a tube or 'cartridge containing the med um of infiation in a liquefied state, the' medum being of such character that it will instantly expand into a gas upon being released from compression. The medium preferred as best suited to the purpose in View is liquefied carbon dioxide, or carbonic acid gas. `These two elements are so combined that, by the cpening of astop valve, the Cartridge isthrown nto communication with the inflation chamber, and the latter instantaneously expanded and converted into a buoyant body.

L1fe-preserving belts, constructed according to this invention, may be worn by a swim mer without inconvenience, leaving him free to swm or dive, but in case of failure` of strength or intany emergency, he can by simply touching a lever immediately inflate his belt. Similar life preservers carried by vessels at sea can be packed so as to occupy small space. Buoys of any form can be made of impermeable flexible material, and their small bulk before inflationadmits of great numbers being stored and carried in a space that would be occupied by a few buoys of ordinary construction. Pontons or floats, such as ca'rried byarmies in campaigning can, with great and.

obvious advantage, be constructed according the invention will readily suggest themselves and need not be specified. The cartridge and chamber are coupled by a connection containing any suitable and convenient means for' releasing the inflating medium instantaneously from the former into the latter. The

cartridge is provided with a self-closing valve,

and is detachably connected to the infiation chamber, as by a screwcoupling, so that it can readily be removed, after use, and replaced by a charged cartridge. These cartridges can thus be supplied in quantity as separate articles of manufacture.

The accompanying drawings which form part of this specification illustrate one manner of carrying the invention into effects, the inflation chamber being in the form of a lifesaving belt.

Figure 1, is an elevation of the belt and attached cartridge. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections, showing the Valve and lever in difierent positions, and Fig. 4, is an elevation (partly in section) showing the elements of the cartridge and connection detached.

The infiation chamber A is in the form of a belt adapted to be worn under the arms, the

'expanded portions being at the chest and back, and the contracted portions beneath the arm-pits. It may be made of any suitable fabric or tissue rendered air-tight by the usual means. Fig. l by a dotted line) may` be covered by an envelope B (see Figs. 2 and 3) of silk or other suitable material.

The cartrdge Cis attached to the chamber,

A at any convenient point by a metallic coupling D, containing a passage or duet leading from the cartridge to the chamber, and carrying a lever F for manipulating the discharge valve c of the cartridge. Valve c (which may be of any suitable kind) is shown as a disk, carried by a spindle, around which is a spiral compression spring d. When the cartridge is charged with liquefied carbon dioxide, or other inflating medium, the pressure of the latter This Vessel or chamber (indicated in too leeps the valve tightly closed, and the spring s only needed to return the Valve to its'seat when the Cartridge is empty. The passage of couplng D contains a sliding pinffor 0pen ing the valve at the proper time, this pin beng actuated by a projection or cam g on level' F, when the lever. has turned to the position ndcated in Fig. 3. The nozzle l-I leading into the chamber A, contains a cut-off valve h, shown as a cone or plug valve, which closes the passage against the escape of the inflating flud in case the Cartridge be removed. So long as the cartridge is in place this valve is not needed.

The cartridge is as shown, so constructed that t can be quickly disconnected from couplng D, this being effected by providing the latter with an externally threaded boss b and providing the mouth of the cartridge with a correspondng internal thread. The belt has a dscharge opening a closed by a screw cap, as usual with life preservers of this kind, and which can be utilized to infiate the belt in the ordinary way in case the Cartridge for any reason cannot be used.

Having now fully described my in vention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with the collapsible inlaton chamber, of a Cartridge containing a lguefiable inflating medium, and provided wth a self-closing valve for confining the charge in the cartridge, a coupling connectin g the chamber and Cartridge and having a com muncatng passage therethrough from one to the other, and a lever and connections under control of the operator for opening the valve, substantially as described.

2.' The combination of the collapsible infiation chamber, the Cartridge for the compressed in fiat-ing medium having a detachable connection with said chamber, a cut-off valve for closing said chamber when the Cartridge is detached, a self-closing valve in the cartridge, and means under the control of the user for opening said valve, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a lifepreserver comprising a collapsible impermeable belt, and a cartridge charged with liquefied gas and detachably connected with said belt, said Cartridge being provided with a selfclosin g valve, and with an Operating lever and connections for opening the same and putting the Cartridge into communication with the interior of the belt; substantially as described.

4. The in tlating Cartridge for use in connection with life preservers and analogous buoyant bodies having a valve adapted to be closed by the pressure of the liquefied inflating medium, and having a screw-threaded mouth, and an Operating lever for opening said valve substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

4 COLOMES.

Witnesses:

VICTRO BAROLI, LoUIs PENS. 

